Preliminary examination

Is my project realistic?
What are the specifics of academic training?
How will I reconcile my study project with my private life?

So many questions to ask yourself before you start the process. Here is some advice and food for thought to help you ask yourself the right questions.

Finish the Bachelor's degree or Diploma you wish to take and identify the corresponding faculty or school for you to référer à its rules and programmes for the upcoming exam.

Regulatory texts

You will find the Directive outlining the general conditions for registration for the examinations required for admission to the Baccalaureate degree courses in the faculties of UNIL (Directive 3.16) on the page of the Directives internes de l'UNIL. 

The composition of the examinations to be taken differs depending on the faculty or school you are aiming for.

Refer to the dedicated pages for each faculty or school to find out the list of disciplines making up the examinations, as well as the detailed syllabus for each discipline.

Registrations

Candidates must make two registrations:

• A registration à l'examen préalable auprèsès de la facul&e; ou de l'école choisie (voir ci-dessous dans les onglets de chacune des facultés/écoles)
• A registration with the Service des immatriculations et inscriptions, to êbe admitted·e à l'UNIL, subject to successful completion of the preliminary admission exam

For medicine:

• For medicine only: a pre-registration is compulsory with swissuniversities, in addition to your application form with UNIL.

Faculty and application form

• Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies

  • Délai for registration with the faculty: 4th week of the spring semester teaching period
  • Deadline for registration with the Registrar's Office: 30 April 2025

• Faculty of Social and Political Sciences

  • Date for registration with the faculty: 31 January 2025
  • Délai for registration with the Registrar's Office: 30 April 2025

• Faculté des hautes études commerciales (HEC Lausanne)

  • Date for registration with the faculty: 31 January 2025
  • Délai for registration with the Registrar's Office: 30 April 2025

• Faculty of Science and the Environment

  • Délai for registration with the faculty: 4th week of the spring semester teaching period
  • Deadline for registration with the Registrar's Office: 30 April 2025

• Faculty of Arts

  • Registration deadline with the faculty: 4th week of the spring semester teaching period
  • Deadline for registration with the Registrar's Office: 30 April 2025

• École de français langue étrangère

  • Date for registration with the faculty: 30 April 2025
  • Délai for registration with the Registrar's Office: 30 April 2025

• École de droit

  • Date for registration with the faculty: 31 January 2025
  • Délai for registration with the Registrar's Office: 30 April 2025

• École des sciences criminelles

  • Registration deadline with the faculty: 4th week of the spring semester teaching period
  • Deadline for registration with the Registrar's Office: 30 April 2025

• École de biologie

  • Registration deadline with the faculty: 4th week of the spring semester teaching period
  • Deadline for registration with the Registrar's Office: 30 April 2025

• École de médecine

  • Mandatory enrolment with swissuniversities until 15 February 2025.
  • Registration deadline with the faculty: 4th week of the spring semester teaching period
  • Deadline for registration with the Registrar's Office: 30 April 2025

The following texts are provided for information purposes. Only the The Directive describing the general conditions for registration for the preliminary examinations for admission to the University Baccalaureate programmes in the UNIL faculties is authoritative. (Directive 3.16).

All preliminary entrance examinations take place during the summer session (June/July), with the exception of the French language school, where the examination takes place during the autumn session (August/September). The preliminary examination is an inseparable set of assessments that are presented as a first attempt in the same session. The autumn session is a make-up session: only failed assessments are presented in a second attempt.

For the exact dates of the exams, please contact your chosen faculty or school.

There are several ways of preparing for a preliminary examination and it is difficult to recommend one over another. The choice needs to be tailored to your personal circumstances, your previous training, as well as your intended studies. Before deciding on a preparation method, it is therefore essential to assess your basic knowledge and the requirements of the exam. Take a look at the different examination syllabuses in the section below to get an idea of the level required.

Examination syllabuses by faculty or school.

Some faculties allow you to consult written exam papers from previous sessions. This is an excellent way of measuring your knowledge and preparing yourself accordingly.

If you have opted for admission on the basis of your academic record and, following the decision of the Admissions Committee, you are subject·e to a partial preliminary examination, find out from the training centres about the possibilities of obtaining a programme adapted to your needs.

The means of preparation

Evening gym

The Evening Gymnasium prepares students for the preliminary entrance examinations for UNIL faculties. The duration of the programmes varies according to the field of study chosen, but generally extends over two years. Classes are held in the evenings.

More information : gymnasedusoir.ch

Private schools

Many public schools offer preparation courses for the preliminary entrance exams. Generally, an intensive course enables you to prepare for a prerequisite in one year.

Self-taught preparation

If you don’t have any knowledge of the university system, self-taught preparation is often very uncertain. It is recommended only if you are highly motivated, if you work alone with ease and if you already have a solid grounding.

If you opt for a self-taught preparation, it is advisable to take private lessons to give you some reference points and good working methods. A·e student·e from the’UNIL or the’EPFL can help you in certain subjects, for example. You can place an advert to find a·e repetiteur·trice on the UNIL Social Affairs and Student Mobility Service website.

More info on offering a job to a·e student·e

Once you've anticipated, checked and planned the steps you need to take to apply for a forthcoming exam, get ready. Take the time you need to prepare, register early and give yourself every chance of success!

Don't underestimate the time it will take you to prepare, which can take several months or even more than a year, especially if you are taking preparatory courses.

Once you have passed your pre-test, you will need to confirm your registration with the Registration Department according to the information sent to you after you have submitted your application.